Dust collector



y 1952 G. c. FRANCIS ET AL 2,596,670 7 DUST COLLECTOR Filed March 6,1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS ATTORNEY y 31 G. c. FRANCIS ETAL 7 DUSTCOLLECTOR Filed March 6, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1NVENTOR$ ATTORNEYS y 13,1952 G. c. FRANCIS ET AL 2,

DUST COLLECTOR Filed March 6, 1950 s Sheets-Sheet s WW 44W ATTORNEYS.

Patented May 13, 1952 OFFICE 2,596,670 DUST COLLECTOR George ClintonFrancis and Roscoe Browning, Hampden, W. Va.

Application March 6, 195i), Serial No. 147,826

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to dust collecting machines and moreparticularly to a machine for collecting the dust during various miningand drilling operations.

An object of this invention is to secure a dust free atmosphere whendrilling into the roof of a mining shaft by operating a suctionapparatus adjacent the drill hole to remove the dust from the vicinityof its creation and transferring the same to a collecting bag.

Another object is to outfit the apparatus with a specially adapted dustcollecting cup through which the drill is placed, the cup being providedwith a resilient lip which is adapted to seal it to the roof asmentioned above and being further provided with a thin rubber membranehaving an aperture or slit therein through which the drill is adapted topass.

A further object of the invention is to furnish a standard forresiliently holding the dust collecting cup in a roof engaging positionby means of compressed air.

Still other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description of the present invention illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of the apparatus in operating positionand showing a portion thereof broken away;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the apparatus show in Fi ure 1;

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the lower end of the piston seal;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view of the cup taken on line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the yoke which swivelly mounts the cup to thestandard, parts of the yoke being shown in cross section;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on lines of Figure 1.

' Figure 8 is an elevation view of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 9 is an enlarged view of the control means for permitting the useof compressed air in the modified form of the invention.

Similar reference characters represent similar parts in the severalfigures.

At the present time the standard method of providing supports for roofsof coal mines and the like is by the use of timber posts and headers.Headers are provided transversely of the shaft and at the roof thereofand vertical posts are utilized to support the said headers. In thismanner the roof is supported and the structuretends to prevent cave-ins.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus which is used inpreparing the shafts for what is commonly known'as pin timbering. Thislatter method of roof supiportis accomplished by drill ing a hole intothe roof of a tunnel and inserting therein a wedge and steel rod, thisrod being about 1" in diameter and 3 to 4' long. These rods are adaptedto provide support for the roof.

In providing the drilled hole in the roof by means of standard stoppingmachines a very dusty condition occurs in the shaft. This condition isespecially injurious to the miners if the roof of the shaft consists ofsilicious rock. Therefore, in order to protect the health of miningpersonnel the present invention has been devised to remove dust, chips,etc. from the drilled hole before this matter has a chance to come outinto the mine tunnel; 7

It has been further kept in mind to provide a device which can be easilyheld in position on the roofwhile the drilling is taking place since itis desirable that this dust removing process be accomplished with theleast possible man power in order to reduce the cost thereof. Thepresent invention .is comprised generally of a dust collecting cup II],a suction fan and its motor II and a vertical standard l2 which providessupport for the cup and suction fan. The dust collecting cup, as bestseen in Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5, is comprised generally of a sleeve-likemember i3, open at one of. its ends, and provided with an apertured endwall M at the other end thereof. The diameter of the aperture IS in theend wall is preferably approximately /2 the diameter of sleeve l3. Aswill be later explained it is this aperture [5 through which a drill I6is passed when the device is assembled in a working position. 7 It willbe noted that a stub pipe I! projects outwardly and downwardly from thedust collecting cup to enable the end of the pipe to be connected to aflexible hose l1.

As will be seen from Fig. 1 it is necessary to provide a closed sealadjacent to the open end of the cup where it meets the surface of theroof. This seal is accomplished by the use of the rubber ring l8 securedto the upper end of the cup. As will be noted both the upper end and theperipheral surface of the cup are then protected during operation of thedevice. Since the function of the suction fan II is to draw the dust outof the cup it is necessary to secure a seal between the'drill I6 and thecylinder end wall H. To do this I have provided a thin circular rubbermembrane l9, provided with a slit 20, which fits tightly around thedrill. The peripheral edge of membrane I9 is adapted to extendvertically along the cup wall I3 and a steel ring 2| is fitted over thelower end of the cup and is adapted to hold the thin membrane inposition.

From the foregoing it will be seen that we have provided a dustcollecting cup which is adapted to fit against the roof 22 where it isdesired to drill a hole, illustrated by the numeral 23. It is then butnecessary to insert the drill through 3 the aperture 25 in the thinmembrane l9, positioned at the lower end of the cup, and com mencedrilling. This drilling can be accomplished by conventional means, suchas by the use of an ordinary jack hammer or stoker, both operated byair, or by an electric twist auger.

It will therefore be seen that dust generated in the drilling hole 23will be collected in the cup.

The next step is to remove the dust from the cup into a largerreceptacle such as the bag 24'. The suction fan I I is rigidly mountedon a vertical piston-like member 25, which forms a part of thesupporting means l2. Member 25 is furnished with a lateral extension 26spaced from the upper end thereof. The outer end of the lateralextension, is provided with a turned portion 21 having secured thereto aU-shaped cradle member 28 which acts as a. bed for the apparatus motor.Member '28 extends towards the upper end of member 25, but terminates ashort distance therefrom. A motor 29 having a centrifugal fan 30 mountedon. the forward: end thereof is positioned in the motor bed and is heldthereon by means of a metal band 3| which surrounds the motor andthe.motor bed. A handle 32 is mounted on the, upper sideof the motor forpurposes of exercising control over the device. As will be. seen a heavyduty electric cord 33 extends from one end of the handle andis adaptedto be plugged into an electric circuit to provide currentto the unitmotor.

Connecting the dust collecting cup and the upper end of. member 25 is ayoke-like member 34, said yoke comprising. a pair of elongated arms 35and 35 which diverge outwardly away from the upper end of. the standardand extend upwardly at an obtuse angle with respect thereto. As will beseen from Fig. 6' these arms are welded to one end of the member 25'.The free ends of the arms are provided with apertures 35* and 35respectively, these apertures being in transverse alinement with eachother. To mount the dust collecting cup to thisyoke we provide a pair 1of oppositely extending studs 31 and 33 which extend laterally from thewall |3 of the cup; These studs-31 and 3B areexteriorl-y threaded andare adapted to be-rec'eived by apertures 35' and 35 respectively. Thenit is" but necessary to thread. the nuts 31 and 38 in their respectivestuds thereby swivelly mounting thecupon the yoke. Connecting thesuction fan 30'- and the lateral extension pipe is a flexible hose IlWith this type of connection-the dust collecting cup is still capable ofswiveling orrthe yoke. The suction fan draws the dust from thecollecting cup through the pipe I1 and the flexible'hose llanddischarges the dust through a suitable sleeve 40 into the bag 24 whichisremovably connectedby any conventional means to the lower end of thesleeve. The supporting means I2 which, as already stated, includes thepiston-like member 25 and furtherincludes a hollow shaft cylinderlikemember 4| in which the member 25 is adapted to be slidably mounted topermit vertical movement of the collecting apparatus. The lower end 25of the piston tapers inwardly and downwardlyfrom flange 42 to form .aneck portion 43 and. later emerges into a second. flared out portion44'. Athreaded opening 45 isrprovided centrally of the flared portion44. V

In. the present invention we desire to.have the member 25 verticallymovable and'held'inacentainposition by means ofv compressed air. Forthis purposea petcock 46. is. tapped into the lower end or base portion.cylinder 4|. The pet cock 45 may, if desired, be provided with a bleedport. By connecting an air hose to this petcock th opening of the sameallows compressed air to pass therethrough into the cylinder" 4| andcreating a tendency to push the'piston 25 vertically as the compressedair meets the lower end of the piston. In order that a more efiectiveseal can be provided between the lower end 25 of the piston, a frustoconical shaped rubber seal member 41 is provided and is mounted in aninverted position between the lower surface of the outwardly flaredportion 44. To secure the rubber seal 41 to the said outwardly flaredportion we incorporate a plate 48 which is provided with a threaded stud49 centrally thereof. It is adapted, to extend through. thecentralportion of seal 41' and 'tobethreadinglyreceived by the opening 45 inthelower-endof the-piston;- Therefore, as the compressed air enters;the. chamber formed in the lower end. of pipe 4|- there: will. be aconstant tendency to push. the: piston vertically, the vertical movementbeing limited. only by the abutment. of. the rubber seal. t8: of"thead'ust collecting cup against the roofi22.

The operation of the device is aszfollowsiz When the location of aproposed pin. timber: is; determined the petcock. 46: is connected tothe: compressed airline and thereby vertically raises. the piston. 25.and all the: elements supported; thereon until the dust collecting. cupabuts; the. roof 22; As will be. seen the dust.collecting cup,v thesupporting yoke, the suction fan. and its moton and the motor bed areall rigidly fastened. to the upper portion of piston member 251-.Therefore, they movevertically upwardly: as" a. unit. Thus; as the.piston is raised, the dust collectingicup is forced tightly against theroot and: is held in that. position. during the: drilling process. Nextthe drill member I6 is inserted: throughaperture 20 in the thin membraneI9 mounted at the lower end of the cup and drilling commences As thedust fallsinto' the cup the suction f'an draws it downwardly into thecollecting bag 24'. After the desired depth is reached for the hole 23-iti's'but necessary to remove the drill, disconnect; the compressed airline from the petcockflfi orbleed the chamber in the lower end of thepipe-4|-. The device is then ready to move to anew drilling position-The modified form of the invention sli'cwrrin Figs. 8 and 9 is seen tocomprise vertically extending standard 50, including a' piston-likemember 5| and a cylinder-like member" 52; the piston 5| being slidablyreceived by the cylinder 52. A nut 53 is provided adjacent the'lower endof the cylinder and having-sufli'cient packing material therein so as tosurround thepiston'5l'. Mounted at the upper endof piston 5|"is'a'sealing member 5| the latter beingthe same as" the sealing member25 in the preferred form of the invention.

A yoke 53 is rigidiysecuredat"itsilowenendto the upper end of thecylinder as" by means of welding or the like, this yoke being similar:to yoke 34 in the preferred former theinvention. A- dust collecting cup'I'll is'swivellymounted on the upper end of the" yoke. It is notbelieved that the details: of the operation of this part of thestructure. is necessary since it has beenfully disclosed inv the.description of Figs; L through 7'. An extension pipe 54 is mounted .onthe. cup to extend from one side thereof and is adapted to be receivedat the outer end thereofbyj a rubber hose 56.1 Between the connectionof" the rubber hose 56 and the: surface" of the dust; collecting cup ashort length of copper tubing illustrated by the numeral 55, is mounted.The end of the tubing 55 which is within the pipe 54 is adapted toextend in a direction longitudinally of the pipe away from the dustcollecting cup. Hose 55 extends parallel to the yoke 53 and is supportedthereby.

A pipe member 51 is adapted to be secured to the lower end of the yokeand extends a short distance along the surface thereof, the upper end ofthe pipe being received in the rubber hose 56. The lower portion of thepipe 51 is curved so as to provide a handle grip 5! and at the lower endthereof a bag connecting member 58 is provided. The bag 59 may bemounted to the member 53 in any desired conventional manner.

This form of the invention differs further from the preferred form inthat here the petcock is mounted in the upper end of the cylinder. Itwill be seen that cylinder 52 is provided at the upper end thereof witha tapped bore 69 which is adapted to receive portion Bl of a petcock 62.Connected into the petcock 62 is one end of a nipple 63, the other endbeing comiected to a compressed air line 64 by means of a clamp 64. Inorder to get the compressed air into the copper tubing 55 from thenipple a valve 65 is furnished, the latter being tapped into the nippleintermediate its ends.

Extending upwardly from valve 65 is a length of copper tubing 66 andconnecting this length 66 with the tubing 55 is a rubber hose 67. Thenecessity for rubber hose 67 and rubber hose 56 is readily apparentsince it will be seen that the dust receiving cup IE! is swivellymounted on the upper ends of yoke 53.

The operation of this form of the invention with the petcock 62 and thevalve 55 in closed position is as follows: First, the cup I0 ispositioned on the surface into which a hole is to be drilled. To aid infixing this cup against the surface, petcock 62 may be partially openedso that the compressed air will flow into the upper end of the cylinder52 to slowly urge the cup upwardly. Once the position of the cup isfound then the petcock may be fully opened. After the drill is placed inthe cup and is in readiness for operation, valve 65 may be opened sothat compressed air will be discharged from the copper tubing 55 intothe extension pipe 54. The discharge of this air sets up a suctionaction within the dust receiving cup, and therefore quickly conveys thedust from the cup through the hose 56 and the pipe length 51 into thebag 59.

From the foregoing description of the present invention it will be seenthat we have devised an apparatus which though simple in design willeffectively remove one of the hazards of present day mining. Thisapparatus is more than a mere advancement in mine construction. It is astep forward in the protection of the health and lives of mine workers.

While We have shown and described a preferred form of our invention, itwill be understood that variations in details of form may be madewithout departure from the invention as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for collecting dust generated when drilling a hole inthe roof of a mining tunnel including a cylindrical dust-receiving cupmounted adjacent the roof surface in a position with relation to saidhole so as to receive said dust, the bottom of said cup being covered bya flexible member having an aperture for receiving a drill, a yokesupporting said cup adjacent the roof surface comprising a pair ofspaced arms each having an end pivotally connected to the cup, each armhaving a second inner end mounted on a separate adjustable telescopingstandard means for supporting the inner end of said arms, the inner endsof said arms being rigidly secured to said standard, said yoke armsoutwardly diverging from said standard and extending upwardly at anobtuse angle with respect to said standard, and suction means mounted onsaid standard for removing dust from the cup and depositing the same ina receptacle, said last named means including a hollow member providingcommunication with the interior of said cup and said receptacle, saidhollow member comprising a hose extending substantially parallel to saidyoke and supported thereon, a length of tubing mounted in said hollowmember in such a manner that when compressed air is discharged from saidtubing the direction of discharge will be away from said cup.

/ 2. In a dust collecting apparatus, a vertical standard comprising aplate adapted to rest on the floor of a mine tunnel, a vertical shaftintegral with said plate and having an upper end forming a piston, asleeve member in telescoping relation with said shaft, an inclined yokehaving its lower end rigidly connected to the upper end of said sleevemember and comprising a pair of spaced arms, a cup pivotally carriedbetween the arms of said yoke at the upper free end of the yoke, saidyoke arms outwardly diverging from said sleeve member and extendingupwardly at an obtuse angle with respect thereto, an apertured diaphragmof elastic material in the bottom of said cup to permit the cup toreceive the end of a drill, a tube secured to the periphery of the cupextending substantially parallel to said yoke and supported thereon,said tube having an end adjacent the top of said standard and having itsinterior communicating with the interior of the cup, a dust receivingreceptacle carried by the end of said tube adjacent the top of saidvertical standard, a compressed air line communicating with the interiorof said sleeve member above said piston end of the shaft to permit saidsleeve to be raised in order to position the cup in contact with themine tunnel roof, an auxiliary line leadin from said compressed air lineexteriorly of said sleeve, the remote end of said auxiliary linecommunicating with the interior of said metallic tube adjacent its pointof connection with the cup, a nozzle formed on said line remote endwhereby compressed air will be directed by said nozzle within the tubeso as to cause drilled particles in the cup to be deposited in saidreceptacle.

GEORGE CLINTON FRANCIS. ROSCOE BROWNING.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,223,027 Brackett Apr. 17, 19171,930,099 Kelley Oct. 10,1933 2,079,417 Markley May 4, 1937 2,107,552Smith Feb. 8, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 133,960 GreatBritain Oct. 14, 1920 338,730 Germany June 30, 1921

